Chapter 282: Li Yang’s Strength

The further one climbed the Deity’s Path, the more difficult each step became.

Although the gap between them remained at three steps, the difference between Lan Yu and Mixed Void was clearly widening.

"Hmph! It’s only been twelve years, Mixed Void, but I refuse to admit defeat! The path of cultivation has only just begun. The Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall gives its Longevity Realm geniuses a hundred years, and there are still ninety years left... I may be behind you now, but I won’t be forever! Even if I can’t surpass you in the Longevity Realm, there’s still the Star Lord Realm and the World Realm... One day, I will surpass you!"

Lan Yu stared at Mixed Void, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit. To him, Mixed Void was his only rival, the one and only target he needed to pursue.

The gap between him and the other geniuses was too vast. He didn’t even need to pay any mind to Li Yang.

Even if Li Yang’s Talent was equal to his own, he already had a lead. It was impossible for Li Yang to ever surpass him.

Such was his absolute confidence!

The two geniuses—one with his brilliance on full display, the other appearing perfectly ordinary—stood in the middle of the space, capturing the attention of every other genius present.

Barely anyone was paying attention to the other geniuses, including Li Yang.

After all, while Li Yang’s Talent was impressive, he was currently two steps behind Lan Yu.

No, he was now three steps behind.

Li Yang’s current record was the fifth step, while Lan Yu had already reached the eighth!

Mixed Void seemed to dislike crowds. Seeing so many people suddenly flood into the Virtual World and stare at him, he frowned slightly before his figure vanished.

Following Mixed Void’s departure, Lan Yu also exited the Virtual World.

Once they left, the quiet surroundings immediately erupted with noise.

The crowd buzzed with discussion, still reeling from the achievements of Mixed Void and Lan Yu.

"Li Yang, you’re here to test your strength?"

Mute spotted Li Yang and walked over. "I never see you around," he said. "You haven’t tested your strength once in five years. Are you here to try and pass the sixth and seventh steps?"

His words obviously drew the attention of the surrounding crowd.

"It’s Li Yang."

"Can Li Yang pass the seventh step?"

"The Talent Li Yang displayed before was comparable to Lan Yu’s. In five years, Lan Yu went from the fifth step straight to the seventh. Since Li Yang has comparable Talent and five years have now passed, he should be able to do it too, right?"

"I’m not sure. Though Li Yang’s Talent is comparable to Lan Yu’s, he was still a little bit behind in a direct comparison. He might not be able to pass."

"Right. That’s the seventh step we’re talking about. Even Lan Yu took five years and barely struggled through. You can’t be even a little bit weaker."

The crowd of geniuses murmured amongst themselves, all eyes on Li Yang.

The last time he was here, Li Yang had passed four steps of the Deity’s Path consecutively, causing a considerable stir.

"Li Yang..."

From within the crowd, Dilunxi watched Li Yang, his eyes glinting.

’He himself had only just passed the fourth step not long ago. Is Li Yang about to widen the gap between them again?’

Hearing Mute’s question, Li Yang smiled. "Just watch and see."

"Damn, Li Yang! I’m only on the third step. Go easy on us, will you?" Hearing the clear confidence in Li Yang’s tone, Mute’s eyes widened in surprise.

Still, everyone was more or less mentally prepared.

With a Talent only slightly behind Lan Yu’s, it shouldn’t be difficult for him to pass the sixth step after seven years. As for the seventh, they figured Li Yang had a fifty-fifty chance.

...

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Li Yang walked up to the steps of the Deity’s Path.

SWOOSH!

His figure flickered and then vanished.

He reappeared inside the pocket space for the sixth step of the Deity’s Path.

Inside the space, a bizarre beast covered in arms stared at Li Yang.

It had mastered the Teleportation Profound Skill of the Space Law. Seven years ago, this beast had killed Li Yang with ease; he hadn’t even been able to put up a fight.

"Li Yang, Longevity Realm. Do you wish to begin the battle?" A familiar, mechanical voice sounded in Li Yang’s ear.

"Begin!" Li Yang answered immediately.

As he spoke, a longsword materialized in his hand.

BOOM!

The battle erupted in an instant. The bizarre beast appeared before Li Yang in a flash, its attack already lunging toward him.

Its speed was incredible, and the fluctuations of the Space Law were extremely potent.

’The Teleportation Profound Skill?’ Li Yang’s expression remained unchanged as the longsword in his hand shot out like a bolt of lightning.

SLASH!

A beam of sword light appeared in an instant, slicing straight through the bizarre beast’s body.

Instantly, the beast’s life force weakened significantly, dropping by a full twenty percent.

’This beast actually feels pretty weak now,’ Li Yang thought with a slight smile.

Naturally, he had not unleashed his full strength.

Li Yang had also comprehended the Teleportation Profound Skill of the Space Law. He wanted to observe how the beast executed it and see if he could gain any new insights.

How quickly he cleared the stage was meaningless to him; the chance for an epiphany was what truly mattered.

"ROAR!"

Although its life force was diminished, the bizarre beast charged at Li Yang again, completely fearless of death.

He thrust out his sword again, and the beast’s life force dropped once more.

After a few more attacks, the beast’s life force finally vanished completely, and it was slain by Li Yang.

"Li Yang, congratulations on passing the sixth step of the Deity’s Path. Do you wish to proceed to the seventh step?"

The mechanical voice rang out after he killed the beast.

Just as everyone had expected, the sixth step posed no difficulty for Li Yang whatsoever.

"Proceed!" Li Yang said without hesitation.

In the next space, Li Yang looked at a massive beast in the distance. It was covered in armor and looked as if it were forged from steel.

The beast was enveloped in an earthy-yellow aura!

This was the Earth Element Law!

The Earth Element Law was completely foreign to Li Yang; he had never encountered a single genius who had comprehended it.

"Li Yang, Longevity Realm. Do you wish to begin the battle?"

"Begin!"

RUMBLE RUMBLE!

Streams of earthy-yellow energy radiated from the massive, steel-like beast, almost instantly pervading the entire combat space.

The entire space seemed to thicken, as if it had turned into a swamp.

Gravity Bind—one of the four great Profound Skills of the Earth Element Law!

Cultivators of the Earth Element Law were notoriously difficult opponents. The Gravity Bind Profound Skill alone, capable of severely hampering an opponent’s strength, had given countless experts headaches.

As it unleashed the Gravity Bind, the massive, steel-like beast charged directly at Li Yang.

"Excellent timing."

Li Yang’s expression didn’t change. The Hexagram Spear appeared in his hand, radiating the potent auras of three Laws: Space, Thunder, and Fire Element!

SWOOSH!

His figure flickered, and he easily dodged the massive beast’s attack.

Cultivators of the Earth Element Law generally excelled at defense, while their speed was often much poorer.

WHOOSH!

After dodging the attack, Li Yang swiftly thrust with his Hexagram Spear. Flashes of fire and crackles of lightning erupted from the spear as he unleashed the Fire Element Law’s Melting Essence Profound Skill and the Thunder Law’s Explosive Profound Skill, enveloping the massive beast’s body.

The flames, in particular, were intensely hot, as if they could melt anything!